Bob
Baldwin is one of the top five keyboardists of smooth jazz. In my review
of
Newurbanjazz.com I sketched up his long way to success. Summarized:
A strong light casts a deep shadow. But Bob always looks straight
forward to the summit.

Logically he focused now on the music
of Michael Jackson. The story of Michael Jackson is told and the best
way to remember his work is to create a cover album of his greatest
hits.

Michael released Bad in 1987
selling over 30 millions copies worldwide. Bob Baldwin's rendition is a
exquisite grafting of the melody with a jazzy approach. Icing of the
cake is Ragan Whiteside's flute solo.

Human Nature was produced by
Quincey Jones for Michael's mega-seller album Thriller (1982).
Written by John Bettis and composed by Steve Porcaro of Toto, the song
has evidently more substance as the other songs of the album and really
fits into Bob Baldwin's collection. Bob can fully expand his mastership
on piano.

The Girl is Mine featured in
the original version Paul McCartney. Bob Baldwin transfers the melody in
his own jazz arcadia. Stevie Wonder wrote I Can't Help It for
Michael Jackson's album Off The Wall. On a concert in Montreal in 2009
Stevie says: "We keep his spirit alive for ever." How can that be better
done than in Baldwin's elegant piano style.

I'll Be There was originally
performed by The Jackson 5 (1970) and later covered by Mariah Carey
(1992), both went #1 at the charts. A prove for the timeless quality of
this song. Anew Bob Baldwin is there to comfort you!

Prodigious is Bob's personal
written homage to Michael Jackson. Impressively great in size the title
underlines Bob's demand and impetus. Leon Ware and Arthur Ross penned
I Wanna Be Where You Are for the album I Got To Be There
(1971). Bob Baldwin's Latin flavored version already appeared on his
album Brazil Chill (2004).

The Lady In My Life was one of
three songs Rod Temperton wrote for Michael's sensational album
Thriller. Bob performs this ballade with great sensibility. Let
Me Show You features Joe Summerville on trumpet. Bob lets his piano
skills glow.

Guitarist Chieli Minucci introduces
into the theme of She's Out of My Life, originally from Michaels
album Off The Wall (1980). Bob composed Don't Say Goodbye
as an interlude to the next song. The vocals have a Pat Metheny flavor.

Final tune on Bob Baldwin's tribute
album is Never Can Say Goodbye. Bob comments: “I grew up
listening to ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ as a kid and watching the J5 on the
Ed Sullivan Show, so he was in the fabric of my musical pop life, in
between listening to Duke Ellington and Miles”. This song is a leitmotif
of Bob's musical life. He recorded the song for his album
Bobbaldwin.com (2000), re-released it for his album Lookin' Back
(2009) and now for his newest project.

Music is an evolution over time
surviving their creators. This tribute is a musical monument of a true
legend. Extraordinary, unforgettable melodies interpreted by piano
genius Bob Baldwin.

01 Bad [5:16]
02 Human Nature [6:22]
03 The Girl is Mine [5:16]
04 I Can't Help It [6:13]
05 I'll Be There [4:29]
06 Prodigious [5:12]
07 I Wanna Be Where You Are [5:48]
08 The Lady In My Life [5:41]
09 Let Me Show You [4:46]
10 She's Out of My Life [5:27]
11 Don't Say Goodbye [2:31]
12 Never Can Say Goodbye [5:22]
Further reviews: